Today I updated my lists of favorite pens, inks and paper plus some of the best combinations I have used. Some items are vintage and others have been discontinued so you might not find them at your local retailer.
What are some of your favorites? Is your list subject to frequent changes or is it stable?
In my email this morning was an announcement from the distributor that “Noodler’s is going back to where it all started, the Catfish! Most of the new ink labels have the classic Noodler’s label of the Catfish. Some labels have descriptions below the catfish picture explaining the ink properties.”
To be honest, when I think of Noodler’s, I always picture the catfish. Certainly there have been other memorable labels, but the catfish is the one that stays with me.
Here is a peak at what is to come.
A few folks have gotten their knickers in a twist over pen and ink names. As a result, Noodler’s has changed the names of a number of products. Other manufacturers have given inks new names over the years ostensibly for marketing reasons though apparently the underlying formulas remained unchanged. To be accurate at representation, my policy has been to use the name on the bottle and that will continue. If I ever restock a bottle with a new name, I will make the switch but who uses up Noodler’s ink? Those bottles are huge!
For reference:
Last week I ordered a replacement for a favorite ink along with a pen for a comparison review from Jet Pens. It turns out they are perfectly suited for each other in a matchy-matchy way. Sometimes you just get lucky.
Sad news from Dan at The Nibsmith this morning. Pilot is discontinuing three Iroshizuku inks: Ina-ho (Golden Brown), Tsukushi (Cool Brown), and Tsuyu-kusa (Royal Blue). He has a limited supply if these are must-haves for you so grab them while you can.
It’s true. My Delike New Moon fine fude has been filled twenty times without cleaning. How is that possible? First of all, the ink is Iroshizuku syo-ro so much of the credit goes to its quality. The pen has been used in my journal almost every day for nearly six months filling 200 pages. The nib allows the ink to flow well though I hold it upright keeping the line at its most narrow width. Most often it has been refilled as the ink fades rather than when it is totally empty. If I write it dry, I immediately refill it and it has never complained.
In the days when people owned only one fountain pen, that pen was used regularly, ink was not heavily saturated, and pens were not cleaned before each fill. Think about it. One pen. One bottle of ink. Just like my New Moon and syo-ro. Interesting, eh?
There are other pens and inks that might work as well, but I am not inclined to tinker with what is working so well.
This surprising number of trouble-free refills resulted from using an ink that isn’t highly saturated, writing regularly, and never letting the nib dry out. It’s like having the largest filler ever made. More time writing, less time cleaning.
Sometimes I do dumb things, but then something good comes of it. This time I filled a Delike New Moon fountain pen with Platinum Classic Lavender Black and forgot about it. Such things happen as we grow older. (sigh)
Lavender Black was in the pen for a month without use and with most inks, that would be perfectly fine. But this is an iron gall formula so OMG did I kill my pen? Not even close. It wrote immediately and cleaned easily with just a water rinse. In fact it cleaned up more quickly than one of my favorite inks in a Moonman pen that was just as ill-treated. That nib is still soaking 24 hours later.
This isn’t a recommendation for any ink other than Platinum Classic Lavender Black and I am delighted with it. Much appreciation to Luxury Brands USA for sending it and feeding my ink addiction.
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